Tupolev You-16

The Tupolev You-16 , indicated Badger in the nomenclature of NATO is a bomber Biréacteur, conceived in Soviet Union, at the beginning of the Années 1950. Although often regarded as obsolete, very general-purpose, it remains in service within the air forces Russian, Ukrainian and Chinese, which does of them one of the rare military apparatuses, whose operational career exceeds the half-century.

Birth

At the end of the Years 1940, the Soviet Union lays out like strategic bomber, only of the Tupolev You-4 , a copy of the Boeing B-29, produced starting from some specimens which had landed on its territory, after having bombarded the Japan. The arrival of the reaction saw Andreï Tupolev supplanted by his rival Sergueï Iliouchine to equip VVS, with a fast tactical bomber. Its Tupolev You-14, appeared quite lower than the Iliouchine It-28 of this last and was ordered only by the naval air force, AVMF, in minor amounts. It hoped well to take its revenge in the field of the strategic bombardment, when in June 1950, the authorities again put in competition the two research departments, on a specification asking a bomber been driven by engines Lyulka AL-5 and able to carry five tons of bombs eight thousand away kilometers. The possibility is left to the engineers use the very new reaction engine of great power Mikouline AM-3, if this one is ready in time.

The team of Iliouchine decides to split into two the study, while starting by designing a version increased of It-28, it-46, then to transform it into It-46S equipped with a sweptback wing. OKB Tupolev directly starts work on the You-88 , or plane NR , with a two engine AM-3 and sweptback wing. The first prototype steals on April 24th 1952. In November 1952, it begins the official tests and the results are disappointing. Admittedly it appears higher than It-46, but it appears unable to reach the autonomy wished by the authorities. One decides nevertheless to launch the production because of his superiority, while being conscious that the noted defects will be rather easily eliminated. The second prototype thus will be entirely re-examined, the structure is reduced, the lengthened nose, and the increased fuel capacity. It makes a success of its tests without any restriction in April 1954, and You-16 are recommended for next the in May production. The program of It-46, is given up to him, without it-46S not being built.

Before even as the tests are not finished, the first You-16 of series leaves the assembly lines, with the factory n° 22 of Kazan, on October 29th 1953. Last nines of them will carry out a passage at the time of the parade of May 1st 1954, in Moscow, then forty, at the time of the air meeting of Tsuchino, in August. The Western experts who discover it allot him the nickname of Badger . If the majority of You-16 leaves the factory n° 22, considering the need for the plane one affect also soon the factory n° 1 of Kouibychev, and some specimens will be also produced with the factory n° 64 of Voronej. The last You-16 produces will leave the assembly lines in 1963 in Kazan. But, thereafter, they will be often rebuilt and modified.

Technical description

Tupolev You-16 is of construction steel, mainly in Alliage of Aluminum, the fuselage long and frayed watch the influence which work had on the You-4 within the research department. A broad bomb bay being able to embark a FAB-9000, a conventional bomb of nine tons, are equivalent local of the Grand Slam British, but also the first nuclear bombs Soviet. Two nacelles containing the two enormous engines Mikouline AM-3, flank the fuselage and form the root of the wings. The prototypes and the beginnings of series use the AM-3 of 6750 kilograms thorough (66.2 kN), but the majority of the production will use the AM-3M whose power was increased considerably, with 9500 kilograms of thorough (93.2 kN).

The two wings are out of arrow, but this one varies. The first interior third of the scale presents an arrow of 41 degrees, whereas the remainder is to 35. The wings consist of Longeron S and are connected to the fuselage in the middle of the engine nacelles. On the level of the change of arrow two other small tapering nacelles are which embark the principal landing gear, whose each leg employs two dual wheels. A caster of directional nose, with a double wheel, and a small caster shock absorber of tail, supplement the landing gear. It is possible to use a parachute to reduce the landing distance. The tail is traditional, but out of arrow, with all the hydraulically assisted control surfaces. There exists a system of de-icing of the wing which uses the air from the engines. Surfaces of tail are de-iced electrically.

The crew consists of six men divided into two groups on both sides of the bomb bay. With before four men all, equipped with an ejector seat operate. However, only the pilot and the copilot can eject themselves to the top, the two others evacuate the plane downwards, which poses problem at low altitude. They reach on the aircraft by a ventral trap door located in front of that of the caster of nose. These four men are: the bomber-operator radar who officiates in the glazed nose, the pilot and the copilot, sitting side by side right with the top and a navigator placed behind them, in an electronics bay of component, surmounted by an astrodome. The last two team members, namely the radio operator and the back machine gunner operate them in a compartment, with the back of the plane. They are deprived of ejector seat and must thus evacuate by the ventral trap door which is used to them as access.

The defensive armament consists of seven guns NR-23 of 23 millimetres of gauge: fixed with before is pointed by the pilot, the six others are grouped by two, in turrets. The back machine gunner points to them his manually, but possibly has a radar of aiming located at the base of the tail (code NATO Bee Hind ). The radio operator uses a remote control to point a ventral turret, it has two bubbles of observation on both sides of the fuselage, in lower part of the empennage. Finally the navigator serves to him also a remote-controlled, but dorsal turret.

The bombardment is carried out thanks to a radar Rubin-1k located under the belly of the plane, on the level of the cockpit, and implemented by the bomber. More generally than a FAB-9000, the compartment is supplied by a set of lighter bombs, typically sixteen FAB-250 or twelve FAB-500, respectively of 250 and 500 kilograms. At the end of the years 1960, many bombers transfer their compartment modified to increase the number of bombs, making it possible to carry twenty-four FAB-250 or sixteen FAB-500.

First derived, You-16A and You-16T

The first You-16 produced had only the equipment enabling them to use only traditional bombs. To use nuclear weapons, a certain number of modifications were essential. One first of all had to equip the compartment with a heating system to preserve the fragile electronic systems of the first nuclear bombs during the altitude flights. Another problem caused by the use of these weapons was the flash resulting from their explosion. To mitigate the effects of them, one had to cover the belly with the plane of a specific painting and to equip the cockpit with curtains which the crew lowered little time before the explosion. The modified specimens of the kind were indicated You-16A. NATO, not detecting the tiny differences between the two models, arranged them all the two pennies designation Badger has . Another unperceived last alternative of the Westerners, the You-16T conceived specifically for the AVMF and whose compartment was designed to embark either ten torpedes or twelve mines. The concept of the plane-destroyer was already obsolete at that time and, as of 1962, the majority were reconverted in hunters of Sous-marin S under the designation of You 16PL. Ils were then equipped with forty buoys sonar and equipment of reception associated and loads of depth to attack the located targets. Thereafter, they were even equipped again with torpedes, but self-directional those and with anti-underwater vocation.

In-flight refueling, You-16Z and You-16N

As a strategic bomber, although solid and reliable, You-16 lacked a sufficient operating range. As of 1953, one decided to cure this problem by developing a capacity of in-flight refueling, on certain planes. The selected process was a method of wing with wing, the supply craft having a flexible tube located in right wing tip, supplied having the receiving system in its salmon of left wing. The supply craft had moreover a small projector in its careenage of right landing gear, to allow the operations of night. The first conversion You-16Z was tested into 1955 and was adopted into 1958. On the whole 114 You-16Z were converted, including 59 You-16ZA, from You-16A. The system will be shown not very obvious in operation, requiring much ability on behalf of the pilots, and it seems that many accidents took place, of which certain disastrous. In 1963, one modified some You-16Z by the addition of a more traditional system hose-drug placed in the compartment to armament and making it possible to supply the Tupolev You-22 To armor, giving thereafter to birth to the You-16N . Some transfer their equipment of wing removed becoming thus You-16NN . Only one You-16D were created by conversion by equipping it with the system receiver hose-drug . However, the startup of intercontinental missiles and the Tupolev You-95 had returned in-flight refueling of You-16 not very priority.

You-16 like platform lance-missile

In addition to his role of conventional bomber with weapons with freefall, You-16 were also quickly used to embark the first Soviet guided weapons. Some You-16 were first of all modified to use radiocontrolled glide bombs UB-2F Tchaika of 2.240 kilograms (1 pennies each wing) and UB-5 Kondor of 5100 kilograms (1 pennies the fuselage). These weapons, being based on a visual guidance of the operator helped by a pyrotechnic device with the back of the bomb, presented inconviénient it to oblige the plane to keep a trajectory stable and thus vulnerable after the dropping. Appeared quickly also, You-16KS the, able one to embark the very new anti-ship missile designed by the team of Mikhaïl Gourevitch, KS-1 Kometa, known in occident under the designation of AS-1 Kennel . You-16KS, indexed like Badger B by NATO, entered in service within the Soviet naval air force, the AVMF, in 1955. To locate the target and to guide the missile, one used the radar of Argon bombardment whose range was sufficient for that of the KS-1, that is to say 80 kilometers. The antenna of guidance of missile was mounted behind bomb bay and the operator used it to give instructions to the missile until the semi-race, where the homing head radar of the missile took over then. This procedure was still extremely dangerous for the plane which was to release its weapon at a distance of 80 kilometers and to follow it at its subsonic speed on half of the race. Vis-a-vis a Western air and sea group, objective for which the system had been conceived, the operation was extremely risky. Even when at the end of the years 1950, the range of Kometa was increased with 150 kilometers, it was clear for the Soviets whom they had need for more powerful weapons.

The first progress was the startup of missile KSR-2, a version improved of Kometa, propelled by a rocket engine and capable of a range of 170 kilometers and a slightly supersonic speed. You-16KS were then modified to carry the new weapon, embarking a more powerful radar the Rubin-1k (code NATO " Horn" shorts;) and an improved autopilot, giving to birth to the You-16KSR-2 or You-16K-16 . 205 planes will be converted, starting from 1962. Those modified from You-16KS will take the designation of You-16KSR-2, while those resulting from conventional bombers will become of You-16KSR-2A. During years 1970, they for will be modernized much receiving the equipment of electronic war SPS-5 and SPS-100, this last replacing the turret of tail. The development of a version anti-radar of the KSR-2, the KS-11, will give rise to another alternative being able to use it, the You-16KSR-2-11 , where the gun fixes before is replaced by the system of acquisition of objective Ritsa . Finally appeared a missile even more advanced the KSR-5 (Code NATO AS-6 Kingfish), able to steal to three times the speed of sound and equipped with a more sophisticated guidance system. You-16 thus were again modified to be able to employ it, which gave to birth to the You-16KSR-2-5-11 and You-16KSR-2-5 , able respectively to draw or not the KSR-11 thanks to a Ritsa system, but all equipped for launching or many KSR-2 or with the KSR-15. In practice, the Rubin-1k radar, insufficient for the range of the KSR-15, will be replaced on many planes by improved Rubin-1m.

In parallel, the development of another missile had given rise to another alternative of You-16, the You-16K-10 , had armed with missile K-10S, had known in occident like the " AS-2 Kipper". It required deep modifications on the plane, in particular the addition of a seventh team member, the operator-missile which took seat in a compartment pressurized in the place of the bomb bay. Another modification, even more visible, the assembly of the radar Yen (Code NATO " Puff Ball") in a radome, replacing the glazed nose of the plane. That under the cockpit originally containing the radar of bombardment on the other versions is preserved, but embarks the guidance system of the missile. Because of importance of the modifications, You-16K-10, will thus not be created by modification of bombers, but will be new building. 216 will be built and NATO, will allot the designation of " to them; Badger C". Other models of missiles K-10S will be designed and used. One finds as follows: the flying K-10SN at low altitude, K-10SD and K-10SND with increased range and the K-10SP equipped with jammers which must help the other missiles of the salvo to penetrate defense unfavourable. Thereafter, in the middle of the years 1960, You-16K-10 will be modified to carry beside their single K-10S, two other missiles of the type KSR-2 or KSR-5 on the pylons of wing. This modernization will be indicated You-16K-10-26 by the Soviets and " Badger C mod" by NATO. 85 will be carried out. During years 1970, some will be still modified to use the missiles K-11 anti-radar and K-5P by embarking the improved avionics Taifun, giving to birth to You-16K-10-26P . Another stranger conversion, of the same time, is the You-16K-10-26B equipped with twelve points of carrying of external bombs and a reflector view finder OPB-1RU. The intentions of the Soviet authorities on this modification remained rather fuzzy.

You-16 of recognition and electronic War

The growing old plane and its role as vector of offensive weapons becoming increasingly difficult, You-16 with his robust cell was going however to furnish the proof of its versatility, by giving rise to two many derivatives to fill of the reconnaissance missions photographic and electronics, which prolonged its operational career. As of 1957 is put in production a specialized alternative, the You 16R , whose 75 specimens will be built. They embark at the same time cameras, whole of sensors SRS-1 and SRS-3 intended to listen to the radio operator traffic and radar of the adversary, been used by a seventh team member in the old compartment for armament and a radar RPB-4 then RPB-6. They also carry, for their protection, a succession of electronic countermeasures SPS-1 including/understanding at the same time jammers and ejectors of lures. The replacement of the SRS-1 and SRS-3 by a single SRS-4 will give to birth to the You-16RM . Into 1967, a plane will be converted into radiological reconnaissance aircraft You-16RR by the assembly of dosimeters associated with filters recuperators with dust. It will be followed by eight other conversions into 1970. During years 1960, twelve others will be converted into oceanic hunters You-16RM2 charged to find the targets for the You-16 carrying ones missiles. The station of the electronic operator of war is removed and replaced by an additional tank. The fixed gun before also disappears and the plane is equipped with a Rubin-1K radar and a system SRS-4, both used by the bomber.

To accompany You-16K-10 equipped with missiles K-10S, the Rubin-1K radar quickly prove insufficient and a new version of hunter of target You-16RM1 is carried out while converting of You-16K-10 for the recognition. With this intention, an operator is installed in the bomb bay, the supports missiles are dismounted and one equips the plane with system SPS-4 and SPS-1M, as well as radar of recognition Yen-R of a range of 480 kilometers. 24 planes will be thus converted and NATO will assign the designation of " to them; Badger D". Another alternative, little known, is the You-16RC whose role was to carry out guidance with semi-race of the missiles launched by ships and submarines. It seems nevertheless to have been derived from You-16RM1.

Very quickly, You-16 were used for the fight against the unfavourable radars. 42 You-16SPS were produced between 1955 and 1957. They embarked them also an operator of electronic system in the old bomb bay which used a system SPS-1 to locate and study the unfavourable radars, then tried to scramble them with the system of jammers SRS-1. They were followed by a series of 107 planes of the same type equipped with SRS-2, more powerful. NATO allotted to these planes the name of " Badger K". All the planes were equipped thereafter with three ejectors of spangles ASO-16, and in 1962, 90 of between-them were re-equipped with the system of Buket jamming covering all the spectrum and automated, becoming thus You-16P Buket (" Badger J" for NATO). They accepted thereafter a directional jammer Fikus (" Badger L" for NATO). Another alternative of early electronic war, the You-16 Yolka rather directed towards the use of chafts with seven ejectors ASO-16 in the compartment and a jammer SPS-4. The AVMF accepted from them 71 at the end of the years 1950, at the same time of new the planes or conversions of You-16T.

Production in China

The China signed an agreement of production under license of the plane, at the end of the years 1950. The first plane assembled locally with Xi' year flew in 1959. It carried the designation of Xian H-6 in the Chinese air force. After the rupture of the relations between the two countries, the production took again in 1970 on a modified version Xian H-6A which could be assembled without the assistance of the USSR.

Operational career

With its startup, in VVS in 1954, You-16 is versed in two services of those: aviation with long operating range or (DA) and the air and sea force or (AVMF). Within the first, it forms during second half of the years 1950 and one good part of the years 1960 the base of the Soviet nuclear deterrence, replacing its predecessor the Tupolev You-4. Its lack of operating range would have limited it to the attack of the objectives located in Western Europe, the intercontinental missions, against the USA, being rather to carry out by the Tupolev You-20. The appearance of the ICBM, and generally of more reliable and powerful missiles, ends up making it obsolete in this role. It moreover was less adapted to the missions of penetration at low altitude than these successors, the Tupolev You-22 and Tupolev You-22M. So that it was isolated of this role towards the beginning of the year 1970. The cells still capable of many hours of flight for the majority are then reconverted in platform of missiles to carry out missions of striking of precision. However, in 1991, after with the collapse the USSR, Tupolev You-22M being nailed on the ground by problems of maintenance, the worthy ones You-16 took again some time their old missions of strike strategic. The clearing will be nevertheless of short duration, and thereafter, the number of You-16 will fall quickly. Within the AVMF, it are first of all You-16T which is employed, but the concept of plane-destroyer is already clearly exceeded and dangerous. And as of 1962, You-16T will be reconverted for other roles, in particular hunting for the submarines, as You more effective 16PL. Une version are deployed in 1955, You-16KS. And even if the Kometa missile is still primitive, these planes will make it possible to define a new type of mission, the attack of large naval units per missile which will become one of the Soviet answers to the existence of the large American aircraft carriers. The appartition of missile KSR-2, then that of the K-10S, finally that of the KSR-5, will make it possible to return this type of much effective attack, the planes being able to attack moreover further while remaining relatively out of reach. The increasingly fast missiles are able to cross the strong anti-aircraft defenses protecting the aircraft carrier. It becomes not very possible then for the US Navy to make operate those near the Soviet coasts. For this mission, several types of You-16 operate jointly and of number. Some are hunters which patrol the ocean by seeking using their radar the presence of an air and sea group of NATO. If an objective is located, a strong formation of plane-launchers is launched to its meeting. The group of You-16 then launches a salvo of missiles of various types to drown defense under the number. At the time of this type of attack, according to the situation, can be employed conventional, but such nuclear warheads. Although the stress is laid on the number to saturate defenses, any refinement is not absent. One can note, for example, the joint development of missiles jammers and anti-radars, missiles flying at low altitude and others with ballistic trajectories. All is thought to complicate the task of the defenders. The plane launcher is not inevitably the plane which guides the weapon and one can combine with the air attack a shooting of long-range missile by submarines and large units of area whose weapons are guided thereafter out of relay by planes closer to the targets. The group escorting the aircraft carriers is found thus attacked by many missiles with the extremely different trajectories and characteristics and is likely to let some pass several, which in the possibility of the use of nuclear warheads appears fatal. It is the problem arising from this kind of attack which will bring the bases of the program giving rise to the future Grumman F-14 Tomcat.

Alternatives

Soviet production

New buildings

You-16 - initial version of bombardment, 294 built.
You-16A - version modified for the carrying of nuclear weapons, bomb bay heated, below of the plane covered with a reflective coating, curtains to protect the pilots from the dazzling. 453 built.
You-16T - bomber-destroyer, able to carry ten torpedes or twelve mines, 76 products.
You-16KS can carry two missiles KS-1 Kometa, 107 built between 1954 and 1958.
You-16K-10 - another anti-ship version, armed with only one K-10 (AS-2 Kipper), is characterized by the presence of a radar in the nose. 216 products between 1958 and 1963.
You 16R - version of recognition, 75 products.
You-16 SPS - initial version of electronic war, 42 products with a system SPS-1 and 102 with the SPS-2.
You-16 Yolka - version of jamming by spangles, 71 products or converts from You-16T.

Versions obtained by modification of existing planes

You-16Z - You-16 equipped for in-flight refueling with wing with wing, 55 realized.
You-16ZA - You-16A equipped for in-flight refueling with wing with wing, 59 realized.
You-16N - supply for You-22, You-16Z or ZA, system " Honest and Drogue" in the bomb bay.
You-16NN - You-16N with system of supply of wing with wing removed, 20 realized.
You-16D - assembly of a receiver for the system " Honest and Drogue" , 1 carried out.
You-16M - conversion into radio-controlled target.
You-16LL - laboratory flying for the test of engine.
You-16G or You 104G - version demilitarized of You-16 being used with the training of as Aeroflot.
You 16PL - reconversion of You-16T in submarine chasers.
You-16S - version of research and rescue, able to release boats of survival, 14 converts from You-16T.
You-16RM - modernization of You 16R.
You-16RM-2 - conversion of You 16R into hunter of oceanic targets.
You-16RR - conversion of You 16R in the radiological reconnaissance aircraft, by the installation from dosimeters, 9 carried out.
You-16RM-1 - conversion of You-16K-10 into hunter of oceanic targets, 23 realized.
You-16RC - conversion of You-16K-10 into hunter of the oceanic, to guide the missiles of units of area and underwater targets.
You-16P Bulket - You-16SPS re-equipped with the jammer Bulket, 90 carried out.
You-16th - reconnaissance aircraft multirôle.
You-16KSR-2 and You-16KSR-2A - reconversion of You-16KS and of You-16A to fire missile KSR2 (AS-5 Kelt), 205 carried out starting from 1962.
You-16KSR-2-11 - addition of the possibility of drawing the anti-radar KSR-11, at least 341 carried out.
You-16KSR-2-5-11 or You-16K-26 - addition of the possibility of drawing KSR-15 (AS-6 Kingfish), 250 carried out.
You-16K-10-26 - improvement You-16K-10, by the possibility of carrying in more two missiles of the K-26 complex, is KSR-2 or KSR-5, some were reconverted for the electronic war.
You-16K-10-26P - You-16K-10-26 with the possibility of drawing anti-radar KSR-11.
You-16K-10-26B - reconversion of You-16K-10-26 in the traditional bomber by the assembly of twelve points of carrying under the wings.

Correspondence of codes NATO

Badger has allotted to You-16, You-16A, You-16T
Badger B allotted to You-16KS
Badger C allotted to You-16K-10
Badger C MOD allotted to You-16K-10-26
Badger D allotted to You-16RM-1
Badger E allotted to You 16R
Badger F allotted to You 16R after his first modernization.
Badger G allotted to You-16KSR-2 and You-16KSR2-11.
Badger G MOD allotted to You-16KSR-2-5 and You-16KSR2-5-11.
Badger H allotted to You-16 Yolka.
Badger J allotted to You-16P Bucklet and to You-16th.
Badger K allotted to You-16RM and to You-16SPS.
Badger L allotted to You-16RM-2.

Chinese production

Xian H-6 - version built under license, with the parts provided by the Soviets, with the factory of Harbin in Popular republic of China, 1959.
Xian H-6A - version built without the Soviet assistance, by ingénieurie opposite, enters in service in 1970.
Xian H-6C - improvement of has, with better electronic countermeasures.
Xian H-6D - bomber anti-ship, armed with two missiles YJ-6 (C-601/CAS-1 Kraken). An improved version equipped with four missiles YJ-8 (C-801) is being studied.
Xian H-6E - strategic bomber, enters in service in 1980.
Xian H-6F - modernization of has and C, during the years 1990, integrated system of navigation, GPS and Doppler radar.
Xian H-6H - bomber armed with two missiles KD-63, developed at the end of the years 1990, would have entered in service in 2004 or 2005.
Xian H-6U - supply of the air force, in flight with two nacelles under the wings.
Xian H-6DU - supply of the naval air force, reconverted starting from Xian H-6D.
Xian H-6M - bomber equipped with four missiles YJ-8x, internal compartment removed (what would have saved approximately four hundred kilograms) and probably a radar of follow-up of ground.

Appendices

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